OT- WWJ-TV (CBS-Detroit) cuts away from PGA Championship
I never saw this one coming, although perhaps I should have. WWJ-TV (the Detroit CBS affiliate aka Channel 62) unceremoniously cuts away from the live broadcast of the PGA Championship to go to pick up the first play of the Lions preseason game against whomever it is that the Lions are playing in their first preseason game.
Now maybe I am being harsh here, because I am a devoted golfer, and I could not identify for you any more than a handful of Detroit Lions outside of the former Michigan players...
But this programming move is just purely insane, from an objective sports journalism point of view.
The PGA Championship is one of golf's four majors. An NFL preseason game is, well, a preseason game. This is the equivalent of cutting away from the 3rd quarter of an NFL playoff game to show a Spring Training game from Florida.
One thing I cannot say is whether this is a good demographic move by the Channel 62 programmers. It may be the case that Joe Sixpack from Detroit, sitting at home in his Barcalounger in his boxers, might be happier being numbed into a coma, watching the Lions, than watching a major golf championship from the gorgeous Wisconsin shoreline of Lake Michigan, with the sun setting, near Kohler. So from a commercial viewpoint, I cannot say that this is plainly supid. From an intelligent sports-journalism viewpoint, it is nothing short of plainly stupid.
Does anybody know; is "Heidi" on Turner Classic Movies, by any chance? Because I am channel surfing now, until Golf Channel begins its post-CBS coverage of the PGA.
August 14th, 2010 at 8:01 PM ^
seriously, lets compare the demographics....NFL fans vs. golfing fans....not much of a comparison here. i sympathize that you are a golfing fan, but the station is going by the demographics here.
August 14th, 2010 at 8:04 PM ^
I don't think there's any question that more people around here are interested in the Lions' game than the third round of the PGA. Your analogy is a little flawed, you should mention that they will cut back from the spring training game to see the entire fourth quarter. You're just missing the end of the third. Not to mention WWJ is producing this themselves, and it's not surprising.
August 14th, 2010 at 8:12 PM ^
Still, I don't think my analogy was flawed; you caught on to the way I framed it. Yes in the hypothetical they would cut back to the fourth quarter, just as I expect CBS Detroit will broadcast the entire final round play tomorrow. It is just the two priorities that I find astonishing. One is an event of international importance. The other is something less than a battle for Podunkville that, uh, doesn't even count.
August 14th, 2010 at 8:58 PM ^
they skipped one hole of golf. for the leaders where one would have to birdy the 17th and 18th to be in the leaders group. it was already determined the next day's order. and it wasn't even the final round. this post makes zero sense.
August 14th, 2010 at 8:10 PM ^
Not 100% sure on preseason games but it may be a contractual requirement to show the entire Lions game - they may not have had a choice.
August 14th, 2010 at 8:16 PM ^
I think what was said earlier is right -- the Lions game is a local production and a plum bit of advertising for the station. They probably make more money off the Lions in preseason, all things being equal, than off of a network-feed broadcast.
Having said that, WWJ clearly would have a choice on when to leave the network feed to go to its own programming.
August 15th, 2010 at 11:40 AM ^
Just a quick follow-up to this. You may be 100% correct - I do not know the specifics of WWJs contract with the Lions to broadcast the game. However, I know that in some cases as a condition of acquiring those rights the station may in fact be required to show every play of the game. I was only speculating that that may also be the case here.
August 14th, 2010 at 8:13 PM ^
Your example of cutting away from a football game to show spring training is flawed.. It's more like cutting away from a Bowling or Darts championship to show spring training.
Football is the #1 sport in the United States, pre-season or not. Not to mention there are dozens of spring training games, whereas there are four pre-season football games.
I'm willing to bet that in the Metro-Detroit area, the Lions game will have at least five times the viewership that the PGA Championship would. Makes complete sense.
If you're a huge Darts fan, it would really suck that they cut away from the Championship just to show some spring training.. but a vast majority would prefer Baseball to Darts, and Football to Golf.
This is coming from a guy who just got back from a round of Golf eager to watch the Lions, so it's not like I hate golf. I'd watch it if nothing else was on, but if it's between football and Golf, it's football every time.
August 14th, 2010 at 9:06 PM ^
Golf is a major sport in this country, especially for the majors. Your darts analogy is flawed. Horse racing isn't particuarly popular, but if they cut away from the 12 hours of Kentucky Derby broadcast to watch a college spring game do you think football should win? How about olympic curling? The OP was talking about it from a sports-journalism standpoint, and I agree that CBS probably should have stayed with the PGA.
To the OP: you did make it seem much worse in your post than I believe it is. It's not the final round, so the broadcast does not have the Sunday drama, which is all many people watch anyway. It's Saturday, which is roughly equal in importance to the first two rounds, and a few notches down the "which should we choose" scale than Sunday.
The ESPN ombudsman had a piece about networks cutting away recently: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=ohlmeyer_don&id=… (see "Anatomy of an Insult" way down). I think he was very smart about it, and demonstrates how hard it is for networks to make the decision. Yes, the PGA is an international event and the other is an exhibition, but if I were in charge, I think I would have gone with the Lions.
August 14th, 2010 at 8:18 PM ^
They have to give their viewers (atleast the majority of them) what they want. I bet there were many viewers who were complaining that they missed the pre-game stuff and what not.
August 14th, 2010 at 8:20 PM ^
like me...i wanted to see the pregame. i was disappointed to see golf on.
August 14th, 2010 at 8:55 PM ^
I wasn't sure if they were going to cut away to the lions, I was throwing a tantrum.I thought I might miss the starters by the time they cut over, I was not a nice person to be around. But if I was a golf fan I know i'd be pretty pissed as well..sorry you missed it.
August 14th, 2010 at 8:19 PM ^
I know it probably doesn't matter but my guide on the box and the magazine itself said that the game would be on at this time.
August 14th, 2010 at 8:39 PM ^
Football will always win. The only way it's even a debate is if it's Sunday and Tiger and Phil are battling it out.
August 14th, 2010 at 9:51 PM ^
Your revolution is over, Mr. Section 1! Condolences! The golfers lost! My advice to you is to do what your parents did! Watch football, sir! The golfers will always lose! Do you hear me, Section 1? THE GOLFERS WILL ALWAYS LOSE!
August 14th, 2010 at 8:46 PM ^
I think you need to ease up on the class related descriptors here...
Joe Sixpack from Detroit, sitting at home in his Barcalounger in his boxers, might be happier being numbed into a coma, watching the Lions, than watching a major golf championship from the gorgeous Wisconsin shoreline of Lake Michigan, with the sun setting, near Kohler. So from a commercial viewpoint, I cannot say that this is plainly supid. From an intelligent sports-journalism viewpoint, it is nothing short of plainly stupid.
Dude, what are you talking about? I like the PGA Tour and have attended many events including a couple Ryder Cups and several national opens (Canadian, US). I also happen to like NFL football and would, generally, watch coverage of that ahead of the THIRD round of a PGA event. Let's be clear here, it wasn't the final 18...
As for "Joe Sixpack" what exactly are you talking about with your stereotypes...Joe SixPack, boxers, Barcalounger...that's just ridiculous. Further, the Lions actually have some storyline this year and could be an interesting team.
August 14th, 2010 at 9:02 PM ^
i am slightly confused on if Section 1 would scoff at a UM Spring Game or the Bowling Green game if a noble, cultured third round of golf were on.
August 14th, 2010 at 9:11 PM ^
Either way, he'd be on the scene to discuss it with a 5-paragraph essay in which said topic is treated with the seriousness of crimes perpetrated against humanity itself.
August 14th, 2010 at 9:19 PM ^
there was one group yet to finish and the next day's order was more or less no question on the final pairings. given the fact pre-season games mean the starters are in for roughly three drives, showing that final pairing had the potential of keeping viewers from even seeing starters. they cut the pre-game but to bitch (and make a post) about not seeing two golfers play 1.25 holes of golf is just stupid.
August 14th, 2010 at 10:03 PM ^
And of course, they could have finished the last 20-25 minutes of play at Whistling Straits, in which (who knows) one of the leaders could hook a tee shot on 18 and find himself in massive trouble; and still join the Lions practice, er, game at about the 8-minute mark of the first quarter. And, so what?
August 14th, 2010 at 10:52 PM ^
...that was pretty funny.
August 14th, 2010 at 10:11 PM ^
And, of course, I was not putting down "football" in preference to "golf."
I was putting down "Stupid practice-session football; Lions stupid practice-session football" in relation to "live, major-championship golf." As a matter of sports-editing.
And, it was my choice to go to the Spring Game instead of watching the third round from Hilton Head this year. But that was my choice, which everybody is entitled to.
All that I question is the television programming decision.
August 14th, 2010 at 10:28 PM ^
too bad this is a democracy. Democracy has spoken that a majority of individuals would rather watch stupid-practice-session-football over live major championship golf. Sucks for you.
August 14th, 2010 at 9:28 PM ^
August 14th, 2010 at 9:30 PM ^
1. When Tiger is contending, golf is likely a fifth or sixth-rated sport.
2. When Tiger is out of it (as happened today in the third round), golf may not be in the top 10. Poker is more popular, and Yahtzee is coming up fast.
3. I guarantee not even the most ardent golf fan could pick 2 out of the Top 10 on today's leaderboard in a lineup.
4. As one commenter said, the NFL pre-empts, it's not pre-empted. This goes back to the Raiders/Jets getting bumped for "Heidi" in 1968. Fans missed the great comback guided by the Raiders Daryle Lamonica.
5. Golf is not OT on this board, IMHO. It is OB--out of bounds. Golf is for people without imagination, coordination or the ability to score with chicks.
6. People can golf and not shower afterward. It's like bowling without the rental shoes.
7. John Daly is a good golfer. It's a game, not a sport.
August 14th, 2010 at 9:48 PM ^
Golf is a game that doesn't require coordination? Have you ever even played golf? I played on the high school team (and in college) for one of the top schools in Northern Michigan. Needless to say, we had as many guys scoring with chics that were on the golf team as the football team. The football team was terrible. A lot of golf's popularity just depends on where you live as well.
If the final round of the PGA had been interrupted that would be a different story. I can see how they would interrupt the last hole or 2 of the third round though.
August 14th, 2010 at 10:07 PM ^
Needless to say, we had as many guys scoring with chics that were on the golf team as the football team.
Those must have been awesome "chics" on the football team!
(Even at $2.5 mil a year, Coach Rod ain't paid enough...)
And yes, I am quite the golfer. Here I am with a "chic" I picked up at my home course in Michigan (I also belong to a similar course in Alabama):
August 14th, 2010 at 10:56 PM ^
I think she's reading the break correctly on that one.
August 14th, 2010 at 10:26 PM ^
August 14th, 2010 at 10:35 PM ^
I don't know the exact demographics but I am willing to bet there are over 307,000 individuals in this country that are in better shape than Jon Daly.
August 14th, 2010 at 10:50 PM ^
When Daly was winning majors, he WAS in semi-decent shape. Besides, here's part of the Oxford Dictionary definition:
"1. An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment "
While the "physical exertion" in golf may not be near that of, say, football, it still takes exertion and skill, and does involve competition, and is therefore a sport. Besides, watching NFL lineman try to hit golf balls is about as much fun as one can have outdoors.
August 15th, 2010 at 12:02 AM ^
There are over 500,000 casual runners in this country. I think all of them are in much better shape than Daly.
August 14th, 2010 at 10:25 PM ^
If this was the final round of championship, then it would be a bigger story. There's an entire round of golf tomorrow and a lot can change in a day. As someone else mentioned, WWJ is probably forced to air it due to a contract with the Lions.
August 14th, 2010 at 10:38 PM ^
I do not mean to pile on here but serious your upset that they cut away for the lions vs pga? As bad as the are the lions are by far the most beloved team in metrodetroit. I was upset that they didnt play the pregame and showed the golf for gods sake.
August 15th, 2010 at 12:10 AM ^
Sorry, and I say this just to stir the pot. Golf is not a sport - it's a game. It is the most worthless use of television programing ever. I admit I am biased, I have no interest in golf.
I live in the viewing area where the preseason game was postponed - not because golf was prioritized - but due to technical difficulties. I was annoyed because I wanted to see my favorite pro team the Pittsburgh Steelers (the team playing the Lions) even in a meaningless preseason game. It's been too long since I've seen them and I had been counting down the days. It's kind of like my anticipation of Michigan's season.
August 15th, 2010 at 7:51 AM ^
Hold on...stop a minute...
People care about golf without Eldrick Woods?
The guy is golf, and the guy brings in the most ratings. Without him doing well (and last check, he isn't) there really is no reason to watch. Sorry.
WWJ was right to shift to the Lions game, even if they did put up only 7 points :|